Fela Kuti (1938-1997) was Africa’s most famous musician and Nigeria’s foremost political dissident. The video above is part one of a documentary filled with the words and music of Fela. What better way to learn about him than hearing from the man himself?
Fela coined and invented Afrobeat, a combination of Yoruba music, jazz, Highlife, and funk rhythms, fused with African percussion and vocal styles.
His father, Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, was a pastor and talented pianist, and his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was active in the anti-colonial, anti-military Nigerian home rule movement. At an early age, Fela experienced both music and politics. His parents wanted him to become a doctor and sent him to study in London, thinking he was working toward a medical education. Fela, however, had enrolled at Trinity College’s school of music and formed his first band, Koola Lobitos, in 1961.
Fela returned to Nigeria in 1963 and formed another version of Koola Lobitos that was influenced by Sierra Leonian bandleader Geraldo Pino. Fela called the music style Afrobeat as a critique of African performers whom he felt had turned their backs on their African musical roots in order to emulate American pop music trends.
In 1969, Fela brought Koola Lobitos to Los Angeles to record and tour. It was during this time that he was introduced to the work of Malcolm X, Eldridge Cleaver, the Black Panthers and other supporters of black nationalism and Afrocentrism. He was impressed and decided to make some changes. The name of the band became Nigeria 70 and the music became more politically explicit and critical of the oppression of the powerless. He also formed the Kalakuta Republic, a commune, a recording studio and a home for many connected to the band which he later declared independent from the Nigerian state.
Fela became a cultural rebel, the voice of Nigeria’s have-nots. The military junta hounded, jailed, harassed and nearly killed him in order to silence him. In 1977, Nigerian soldiers attacked his Kalakuta compound. Fela suffered a fractured skull and other broken bones. His 82-year-old mother was thrown from an upstairs window. The soldiers set the compound afire and prevented fire fighters from putting out the blaze. All of Fela’s master tapes and musical instruments were destroyed. To mark the anniversary of the Kalakuta attack, Fela married twenty-seven women, many of whom were his dancers, composers and singers. He later adopted a rotation system to keep only twelve simultaneous wives.
Fela established his own political party, Movement of the People (MOP) in 1979, and renamed his band Egypt 80. Until 1983, Nigeria was under civilian rule, which was a peaceful period for Fela until military rule returned in 1983. The following year, Fela was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of currency smuggling, but with the help of Amnesty International, he was freed a year later.
During the late ’80s, Fela recorded attacks against Nigeria’s corrupt government, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. During the ’90s, Fela was relatively quiet, with many suggesting that he was too ill. On August 3, 1997, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a prominent AIDS activist and former Minister of Health, announced his younger brother’s death a day earlier from Kaposi’s sarcoma brought on by AIDS. More than a million people attended Fela’s funeral at the site of the old Kalakuta compound.
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Concrete Loop features ‘Black History Spotlights’ each week honoring black people who have played pivotal roles in history. submissions are welcome.
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Yay for CL reppin the Naija music! We appreciate it!
YES!! I love it when the GOOD parts of Nigeria are highlighted….makes me feel proud to be born and raised there. Fela is a legend always will be.
YAY You posted the Fela story! Thanks Mr. Dakar!
Igbo Kwenu!
Also Naija Kwenu!
Love all my people!
#7 Love it! lol
Nice looking out CL. His son Femi is doing big things too, following in his father’s footsteps. Saw him perform in Cape Town 2 years ago and he brought down the house.
Hahah, yesterday I was listening to him and Femi, today he is up on CL. He spoke the truth. Now that’s what we call real music.
But please, how come it’s mostly Nigerians I can see commenting. Our fellow American sisters and brothers are you not interested?
Fela is just pure brilliance. Most jazz/afrobeat heads who are non Nigerian are also aware of him. Through listening to from a young age till now, I have really began to realise how many artists sample/are influenced by his music.
‘Zombie’ and ‘Shakara’ stay on repeat on my iPod every day. Look out for Seun Kuti too-he did a hell of a show over here in London a few weeks ago in the Barbican. Excellent stuff.
Well done CL.
I loved this dude grew up listening to im myself!!!!
Thanks CL for highlighting the trials and tribulation of Nigeria greatest Artiste Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Fela was a revolutionary and a freedom fighter. He singlehandedly took on the Nigeria Military Junta and Elitist. He fought for the rights of the poor and underpriviledged people. He exposed the widespread corruption of Nigeria leaders. FYI- Nigeria rakes in Billions of dollars daily from Oil sales yet millions of its citizens cannot afford three square meals per day.
Fela was relentless even after Government soldiers killed his mother, burnt down his house, raped his wives and killed his band members. He continued until he was finally silenced by the Government (He did not die from aids like the Government claimed). In my opinion, Fela was the greatest President Nigeria never had. May his soul rest in perfect peace!
NAIJA Represent!
BROOKLYN Stand Up!
U.S Army all day!
Nice!
Fela (Iba’ra turon) was the business. He had so much swagger, intellegence & talent. Just couldn’t get down with the polygamy… other thant that… Bomb!
NAIJA STAND UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you soo much J.Dakar for posting this, as an igbo I do love listening to Yoruba music, especially Fela!!!! My mom got me listening to his music he is the BEST….He told the gov’t how he felt and DIDN’T CARE!!!! I’m really happy right now!!…AND I KNOW EVERY NIGERIAN IS CHEESING RIGHT NOW!!…LMAO!!!
Nigeria stand up!!!! Thanks for the article CL….The man was a legend. His music lives on through his children and us his fans. Peace
BIG UP CL!! FELA is the MAN! I must say that I am so surprised and extremely proud that he was featured! I’ve sent links to everyone in my family!
THANK CL
PEACE & LUV
as u can tell from my name, i am very African and most especially Nigerian…..BIG UP!!!….lol. Fela was amazing, he has also inspired many artist we have today in Nigeria. It is sad that he died of the deadly and dreaded disease, AIDS. Absolutely amazing man. (in case u have already sed all this in the post (which u defi have), i actually didn’t read it, i was just to surprised and excited that u had a feature on him)
Concreteloop u r tres fantastique
The Nigerian Bob Marley. Thanks for this great post dakar!
abami lives on
I love that CL is steady droppin knowledge. Shout out to all my Eritreans
FELLLLLLLLAAAA
Were was I when this was posted
i can honestly say i never get on here and comment
but i am always viewing
my dad is/was inlove with this mans music.
great music.
im nigerian, so woot.
I’m proud to see theres actually some youth with knowledge about this musican.
this international star.
[no im not old im 21 lol, but still im impressed]
great post, J. Dakar! Igbo girl representin on da loop!
I love this article,it is a nice one atleast it has helped some people.Good job,keep it up.
Huummmmmm OMG if u want to more about Fela ask baba kay his promoter hummmmmmI am lucky I saw Fela perform many times. We alway watched him rehearse when Kalakuta Republic was located at Idi-Oro. The gate was always open, and we used to stop by after school . Kay junior…. Kay popular…… Big Kay respect see u guys in Felabration day